While the Ford Foundation grant that funded Difficult Dialogues expired, the program will now be funded with money from Ohio University.
Difficult Dialogues aims to give students a classroom setting to discuss controversial religious issues and currently offers class credit for some courses.
Basically what we're trying to do is to bring together people who are serious about the notion of using academic methods and careful thinking to honestly address issues that divide people
said Steve Hays, director.
Hays began Difficult Dialogues three years ago with the Ford Foundation grant.
This year the program is continuing with funds from an Ohio University 1804 grant because the time limit on the Ford grant ended, he said.
The 1804 grant will provide the program with $40,000 over the next two academic years.
Current courses included in the program are an African American Studies course and two Classics and World Religions courses, although Hays said he would love to see other departments get involved.
The College of Arts and Sciences put funds into the program to encourage faculty from the college to participate in the model the program uses.
The program saves university money on professors' and group leaders' salaries while still providing a good environment for students to have good discussions, he said.
The value of the humanities comes with people seeing that they have a personal stake in the issues and trying to figure out what they really believe he said. We make things better or worse for our world and for the next generation depending on how well we struggle with these issues.
Although there are no classes offered for the program next quarter, Difficult Dialogues courses are open to all students. Students who enroll in the program as freshmen get preferred access to the courses.
Incoming freshmen with high ACT and SAT scores and high class rank are sent invitations to join the program in the late spring, after most have confirmed they will attend OU, Hays said. Those students also have the option of living together as a community in Bush Hall.
OU is one of 43 institutions nationwide with a Difficult Dialogues program, although Hays said that no other program is quite like OU's in terms of organization.
Megan Casebolt, a sophomore studying social work and women and gender studies, organizes a Difficult Dialogues movie night every other Tuesday, followed by discussion groups. This quarter, films centered on different religions such as Buddhism and Islam. Spring films will deal with topics of religious influence in politics.
Difficult Dialogues also involves the community by planning visits to various religious institutions around Athens as well as forums to foster discussion with local residents, said Community Coordinator Intern Kelli Lupas.
1
News
Jessica Blakely
27384a.jpg
The Difficult Dialogues group, a student organization that focuses on discussing differences among cultures and religions, has recently begun focusing on the Muslim faith. Here, Imam Khurrum Hurum addresses the group. (Annye Driscoll/ Staff Photographer)
